L/Cpl
Charles Edward Hale
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 14/11/1894 |
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Place of birth: Gotham, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: 441 Berridge Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Assistant dans un magasin nautiques |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Lance Corporal |
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Service number: 266936 |
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Enlistment place: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), 2nd/7th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 26/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Pommern Castle & Redoubt, Saint-Julien, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 22 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: VI Row: D Grave: 13 |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Charles Edward Hale was born on 19 November 1894 in Gotham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom. He was the son of Cornelius Hale and Alice Laure Stanton. He enlisted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, and was assigned to the 2nd/7th (Robin Hood) Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), 178th Brigade, 59th (2nd North Midland) Division.
Charles was killed in action on 26 September 1917 during the Battle of Polygon Wood, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. On the evening of 24 September 1917, the 2nd/7th (Robin Hood) Battalion Sherwood Foresters moved towards positions at the front line near Hindu Cottage and the Schüler Galleries. At around 3:30 a.m. on 26 September, the men began to assemble and prepare for the attack. The attack was to be carried out in two waves. The first wave consisted of “D” Company and “A” Company, and the second wave of “C” Company and “B” Company. The first wave would attack the first objective line running from Schüler Farm to Kansas Cross. The second wave would attack the second objective line stretching from the Hanebeek to Fokker Farm.
The attack began at 5:50 a.m. The first wave immediately came under machine-gun fire from Kansas House and Cross Cottages. Nevertheless, the first wave succeeded in capturing and consolidating the first objective line by around 6:20 a.m. The second wave then moved through the newly captured positions en route to the second objective line. The second wave encountered little resistance, and most casualties were caused by enemy artillery fire. By 7:15 a.m., the battalion had also secured the second objective line. At 5:30 p.m., German artillery opened fire again on the recently captured lines. This was followed by a German counter-attack. The troops holding the most forward line on both flanks withdrew upon seeing the counter-attack. The counter-attack was ultimately repelled, and the withdrawn troops were sent back to their original positions. A handful of men had not withdrawn and were now at risk of being encircled. After 9:30 p.m., the front fell silent. The battalion held the lines until 29 September. In the evening of the 29th, the battalion returned to Vlamertinge. During those five days on the front line, the battalion suffered: 37 killed, 245 wounded, and 48 missing.
Charles was killed at the age of 22. His body was found after the war near the Pommern Redoubt. He was later reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, plot VI, row D, grave 13.
Charles was killed in action on 26 September 1917 during the Battle of Polygon Wood, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. On the evening of 24 September 1917, the 2nd/7th (Robin Hood) Battalion Sherwood Foresters moved towards positions at the front line near Hindu Cottage and the Schüler Galleries. At around 3:30 a.m. on 26 September, the men began to assemble and prepare for the attack. The attack was to be carried out in two waves. The first wave consisted of “D” Company and “A” Company, and the second wave of “C” Company and “B” Company. The first wave would attack the first objective line running from Schüler Farm to Kansas Cross. The second wave would attack the second objective line stretching from the Hanebeek to Fokker Farm.
The attack began at 5:50 a.m. The first wave immediately came under machine-gun fire from Kansas House and Cross Cottages. Nevertheless, the first wave succeeded in capturing and consolidating the first objective line by around 6:20 a.m. The second wave then moved through the newly captured positions en route to the second objective line. The second wave encountered little resistance, and most casualties were caused by enemy artillery fire. By 7:15 a.m., the battalion had also secured the second objective line. At 5:30 p.m., German artillery opened fire again on the recently captured lines. This was followed by a German counter-attack. The troops holding the most forward line on both flanks withdrew upon seeing the counter-attack. The counter-attack was ultimately repelled, and the withdrawn troops were sent back to their original positions. A handful of men had not withdrawn and were now at risk of being encircled. After 9:30 p.m., the front fell silent. The battalion held the lines until 29 September. In the evening of the 29th, the battalion returned to Vlamertinge. During those five days on the front line, the battalion suffered: 37 killed, 245 wounded, and 48 missing.
Charles was killed at the age of 22. His body was found after the war near the Pommern Redoubt. He was later reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, plot VI, row D, grave 13.
Sources 3
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1911 England Census (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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2/7 Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment) (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/3025/7). http://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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n.n., The Robin Hoods, 1/7th, 2/7th & 3/7th Battns. Sherwood Foresters, 1914-1918, Naval and Military Press, s.d., s.l., pp. 357-369 Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/463008 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=88f029b0-aeb2-45fd-a04b-baa915343a1c |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/1519945 |